Name: SOLD - Lil Dawg D-Lux 5E3 Tweed Deluxe 2018
Brand: Mahar's Vintage Guitars
SKU: zAMP-0302
Availability: OutOfStock

SOLD!

Who buys vintage guitars? We do!

Call 530-570-1525 or email sales@maharsvintageguitars.com to sell your vintage guitar, bass, amplifier, etc - one piece or a collection! We are always ready to buy instruments, amps and effects from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Epiphone, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Marshall, Vox and just about anything else related to musical instruments. You can also click here for more info on selling us vintage instruments, amps, parts, etc.

No Sales Tax For Customers Outside Of California.

One of two Lil Dawg amps that were recently traded in.

Lil Dawg amps are the product of Jim Nickelson's shop. This one-man operation churns out some great stuff, built with care and quality.

Jim's website tells the story:

"The D-Lux is based on the tweed narrow panel 5E3 Tweed Deluxe circuit and is a real chameleon as it can easily cover quite a variety of music genres. The 5E3 Tweed Deluxe is unique among the tweed amps as its controls are interactive. With a little knob turning you’ll find loads of ‘sweet spots’, which can account for why this circuit is so popular with studio players as well as the stage pro.

Features are Normal Bright channels with high low inputs on each, separate volume controls, as well as a common tone control.

The traditional tube compliment is 1 5Y3GT, 2 6V6GT, 1 12AX7 and 1 12AY7."

This particular amp has a transformer change, requested by the original owner. We emailed Jim about it to make sure we had the correct specs. His reply:

"Thanks for letting me know that you’re all having fun with the amp as that’s what it was built to do :)

I build to order for the most part & that was the case with #914. The transformer set was for a Deluxe Reverb but it does sound so nice in the 5E3 circuit. Out put watts would depend on the tube set used but with 6V6s it would be a solid 18 watts with a 5Y3GT, with 5881’s I’d figure 22 watts & with 6L6’s close to the 25 watt range with a GZ34."

Jim's backstory:

"Most great ideas have very small beginnings, and Lil Dawg Amps is one of those ideas. What began as a dream to give my son Michael a one-of-a-kind handmade birthday present, rapidly took on a life of it’s own once I started on the project.

I decided I wanted to make a small tube guitar amp for him, as we’re both guitar players. It seemed like an easy project, just a little work here and there and out it would come ready to play. I was definitely in for a surprise. There is a great deal of planning and labor that goes into making an amplifier that not only sounds right, but looks right also. I spent a lot of time looking at and listening to different amps, just to narrow the choice down to the one I wanted for my son. It had to be just right.

The amp that I thought sounded the best for the styles we play happened to be the time proven ’59 Fender 5F1Champ. A sweet little workhorse that’s full of tone, and able to do anything from country, to rhythm & blues, to rock, and especially well suited for blues. These are also nicely suited for harp too, with just the right amount of grind. What was so amazing was all the tone that was available and no need for a tone control, just a single knob for volume.

Several years ago I was asked what my business model was for the amps, and I didn’t have to think long before giving an answer. It’s what I believe in, and hopefully I succeed in following it. It’s a very simple plan with just three objectives. Provide a good product at a fair price, treat the customer well and with honesty, and finally have fun. You can always add more things like making money, etc., but I honestly believe those first three are the most important to follow.

Another thing I’ve learned is that satisfied customers are the best advertising you could ever hope for. So other than this website, I rely solely on my customers for their “word of mouth” advertising about the amps. That also lets me stay focused on doing things right rather than on a new ad campaign to boost sales the next quarter.

Shipping policy:

Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.